Listed below are some of our favorite pieces of travel gear. If you like any of our suggestions and choose to purchase based on our links, we may receive an affiliate commission on the item. It doesn’t change your price but helps us defray the cost of the website.
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Michele carries this bag whenever we travel. She likes the antitheft features and small form factor that allows her to keep it under a jacket. Purchase this item
We were originally looking at TSA-approved locks, but after 3 of them failed when I tested them, we opted for simpler. These clips stop the casual thief looking for an easy zipper to pull, but it won’t stop a determined thief. To be fair, what solution will? Purchase this item
This is Michele’s favorite daypack. It folds down to a very small size to fit in your other bag but opens up to be an unstructured 18l backpack. Purchase this item
The Cotapaxi Alpa 38l roller is our choice for carry-on bag. It is the biggest bag we carry and the 2 wheel design allows it to handle terrain a spinner couldn’t navigate. Purchase this item
We both carry the Cotapaxi Alpa 28L backpack as our personal item bag. It fits under most airline seats. Purchase this item
Michele loves these Tripped Packing Cubes for organization and space savings. They are lightweight & are easy to wash. Purchase this item
We use these dry bags when we have wet clothes to carry and to add a layer of protection to our liquids bag. Purchase this item
We each carry a pair of AirPods to use on routine flights, bus trips, or train travel when the Wyze Over Ear Noise Cancelling is too much to carry.
You may want to look at the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling or the AirPods Pro 3 which now can run live translation using the latest iOS.
We don’t usually wear noise cancelling headphones… except on long plane flights. These inexpensive Bluetooth headphones still have a variety of modes, including active noise cancellation and a transparent mode which allows you to hear speech while cancelling out surface noise. Purchase this item
This Anker Charging block gives us 150W of charging power across 3 USB-C and a USB-A port. The plugging strip can fit two of them! Purchase this item
This Anker 25,000mAH Power Bank powered all of our devices for a 14 hour plane flight. It is airline-complaint at under 100Wh and has two USB-C cables built-in. Purchase this item
We own 3 of these MagSafe chargers. They hold more than 3 full phone charges , support pass-thru charging, and fit in a pocket or daypack. Purchase this item
No matter where you are, outlets are never in the right place. This power strip folds up small and powers 7 devices. Purchase this item
These are Michele’s favorite sandals. She wears the light blue, but they come in a variety of colors. Purchase this item
On our 14 hour flights to and from Japan, we wore these socks. They help to prevent DVT (deep vein thrombosis) which can be very dangerous, especially to older travelers. We also found that you didn’t get that restless leg feeling when you have to be seated for so long. Purchase this item
You don’t always want a hat but sometimes you need it. These folding ball caps can fit in the pocket of a carry-on, taking up very little space and not get crushed. That way it’s ready to throw on once you arrive at your destination. Purchase this item
We were originally looking at TSA-approved locks, but after 3 of them failed when I tested them, we opted for simpler. These clips stop the casual thief looking for an easy zipper to pull, but it won’t stop a determined thief. To be fair, what solution will? Purchase this item
This umbrella saved us during 2 weeks of summer in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. With temps at 115F/68C, the blazing sun was held off by this 210T denier umbrella, which is roughly equivalent to SPF50 sunscreen… which you should still use of course! Purchase this item
We tried a variety of water bottles before settling on the Hydroflask for hot or cold. They have a variety of tops include straw and flip top, but this 20oz fits best in our bottle pockets. Purchase this item
Silicone Cable Ties help keep your cables organized and don’t pull on your clothing like velcro. Purchase this item
Luggage tags that hide your personal info with the security of stainless steel attachments. They come in a variety of colors. Purchase this item
This Anker Charging block gives us 150W of charging power across 3 USB-C and a USB-A port. The plugging strip can fit two of them! Purchase this item
This Anker 25,000mAH Power Bank powered all of our devices for a 14 hour plane flight. It is airline-complaint at under 100Wh and has two USB-C cables built-in. Purchase this item
We own 3 of these MagSafe chargers. They hold more than 3 full phone charges , support pass-thru charging, and fit in a pocket or daypack. Purchase this item
No matter where you are, outlets are never in the right place. This power strip folds up small and powers 7 devices. Purchase this item
When we flew to Japan, we worked hard to manage our sleep time so we could land well rested. These sleep masks (and our ANC headphones) helped us to get some solid sleep time. Purchase this item
On our 14 hour flights to and from Japan, we wore these socks. They help to prevent DVT (deep vein thrombosis) which can be very dangerous, especially to older travelers. We also found that you didn’t get that restless leg feeling when you have to be seated for so long. Purchase this item
This umbrella saved us during 2 weeks of summer in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. With temps at 115F/68C, the blazing sun was held off by this 210T denier umbrella, which is roughly equivalent to SPF50 sunscreen… which you should still use of course! Purchase this item
You don’t always want a hat but sometimes you need it. These folding ball caps can fit in the pocket of a carry-on, taking up very little space and not get crushed. That way it’s ready to throw on once you arrive at your destination. Purchase this item
These laundry detergent sheets saved us in Bermuda when we were doing laundry every day. Cut the sheets in half and it's enough for a sink-load of clothes. Purchase this item
Disinfecting Wipes for cleaning high touch areas you encounter like remote controls. Purchase this item
